Love of the Land - The Heavenly Gift

Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

THE HEAVENLY GIFT

Three things were presented as gifts to the world
- the Torah, the Heavenly luminaries and rain. Rabbi Tanchuma
added Eretz Yisrael to this list, as it is written "He gave
them the lands of the nations" (Tehillim 105:44). (Bereishis
Rabbah 6:5)

There are some elements in the world which are indispensable
to human existence and which would be unattainable through any
human effort or expense. But they have all been made available
to mankind without charge, as a Heavenly gift. The addition of
Eretz Yisrael to this list stresses the idea that it was not through
military prowess that Israel acquired its homeland, but through
the miracles which constituted a Heavenly gift.